The Los Angeles Lakers’ complete 2026-27 schedule was released on Thursday, Aug. 13, and coach JJ Redick's team has a starting point for how it can remain a contender in the Western Conference.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will lead the Lakers during a season that starts with eight of the first 10 games against Western Conference teams, including the two games each against the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat will be the two out-of-conference opponents during the early portion of the schedule.
The Lakers will play 14 back-to-back games this season, including at the start of November against the Raptors and the Heat in Los Angeles.
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The Raptors have the potential to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, if the trade with the Clippers for Kawhi Leonard is finalized and made official. Miami will pose a challenge for the Lakers with the Heat fielding a lineup that includes Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The former MVP was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade back in June.
Doncic and the Lakers will be featured in 34 nationally televised games, which is tied for the most in the NBA. Of the 34 nationally televised games, 18 of those games will be played at home, which is also the most in the league.
The Lakers' longest road trip will take place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8, with a seven-game road trip that will include visits to Madison Square Garden to take on the defending NBA champion New York Knicks.
The Lakers will also take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics during the trip.
It will be just one of three times the Lakers will play the Spurs this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder also appear on the Lakers’ schedule just three times.
The Lakers also will serve as a host to several teams, having three five-game homestands during the season.
In total, the Lakers will also have three instances where they are playing five games during seven days on three different occasions, which is the most in the league.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers schedule: What to know for 2026-27 season